God’s Elite Strike Force!

Jimmy was most probably either headed for prison or a shooting on the street. He was failing in school, hanging out with a crowd of losers, going nowhere. Then, he met a Marine recruiter who took him in tow and sold him on becoming a United States Marine! When I saw Jim after he finished basic training, it was hard to recognize him. He stood erect. He had pride in the corp. He was disciplined. The Marines boasts that they can take a young man without purpose and/or direction and make him into a warrior worthy of the greatest nation on earth. It must be true, for I have witnessed the transformation, more than once!

Becoming one of Christ’s Own, a genuine experience of the Spirit’s renewal will produce a transformation that is even more dramatic! Does joining a church do that? No! Some who just ‘get religion’ find an experience like wearing a suit that is too tight, binding and uncomfortable. They serve with a sense of duty, but with little joy. But, those who are truly ‘in Christ’ are infused with power and purpose. Yes, yes ... of course, pride is incompatible with Christian humility. We cannot sound our own trumpets and strut in the streets. Yet... we need to reconsider our hang-dog attitude about being a Believer, one of the elect (chosen) of God!

Peter exults about the power of God to take 'nothings' and make them into 'somethings.' Read this passage. This is God’s description of those He calls into His "Ekklesia," His, Church, the called out ones!
"Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." - 1 Peter 2:9-10 NASV

Elect, royal, holy, God's treasure!
If we wear those titles and let them define how we see ourselves, they will ennoble our lives and call us to a higher plane of service. We could slide into the sin of elitism, except that we know it is His work of Grace, not our merit that brings us to this glorious destiny.

Are you living in your God-granted privileges today?
Are you holding up your head and rejoicing that He has called you out of the dark and into His wonderful light?

Zechariah urges us to take our place, to live in His promise, and to know our destiny. The pictures painted in my mind by his words are startling, yet compelling. Take a look....

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey... Then the LORD will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign LORD will sound the trumpet; he will march in the storms of the south, and the LORD Almighty will shield them. They will destroy and overcome with slingstones. They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar. The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. How attractive and beautiful they will be!"
Zechariah 9:9,14-17 NIV

What are the words used to describe the people of God?

• Protected.
  Powerful.
• Celebrating their victories with the abandon of those who areintoxicated!
• Precious as jewels and as beautiful, too!

Friend, IF you are Christ's then you can live that description. Shake off that 'I'm nothing, unworthy; don't look at me' attitude. You're one of the Chosen. God has set His favor on you. Live in it today with thanksgiving, humbled by His grace, and fed by His goodness!
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Do you hear them coming brother,
Thronging up the steeps of light,
Clad in glorious shining garments,
Blood washed garments pure and white?

Do you hear the stirring anthems
Filling all the earth and sky?
'Tis a grand, victorious army,
Lift its banner up on high!

'Tis a glorious church,
Without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb;
'Tis a glorious church,
Without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Wave the banner, shout His praises,
For our victory is nigh!
We shall join our conqu'ring Savior,
We shall reign with Him on high!

A Glorious Church
Hudson, Ralph E. © Public Domain

Rethinking Extravagance!

Perhaps it is a reflection of my Midwest roots but I am deeply suspicious of things extravagant! Anything that even appears to be an attempt to draw attention to one's self turns me off cold! It is not for me to spend much on clothing. I certainly am uncomfortable, to say the least, with emotional displays. While I can express affection, my family would not likely call me effusive in that area. This reserve carries into my devotion to Christ Jesus. Loud or emotional displays in worship, especially public worship, cause me to shut down, to become self-conscious, even to withdraw. And I must ask, why?

Both Mark and John tell the story of one woman's love for Jesus that led her to an amazingly scandalous display! (John 12, Mark 14) At dinner one evening, while He was among men as was the custom, a woman entered the room. Mary was a respectable, upright lady but she loved Him deeply, not romantically, but with her whole being. Breaking all the rules of her society, she broke open a jar of perfumed ointment worth a full year's wage and poured it on Jesus, head to toe! The fragrance filled the room and, most likely stopped conversation. What she did next was even more shocking. She undid her hair and used it to wipe His feet. Yes, there are no two ways to see this. It is over the top extravagant expression of love and devotion!

Mary risked reputation, spent a fortune, ignored the opinions of others - not because she was arrogant, nor because she wanted to gain attention, but because she loved! And, Jesus did nothing to stop her extravagance. In fact, He praised her for her love and said she was preparing His body for burial, a recognition of His death, just days or weeks away.

Disciple, how much do you love Him?
Are you willing to be extravagant in your expressions of that devotion?
Does your love for Him blind you to the opinions of others, make you forgetful of cost or effort?Or is your religion a carefully calculated cost/benefit exchange, an investment of the minimum required to gain the assurance of God's favor?

With Mary's act forming the backdrop, meditate on these passages. Ask the Spirit of God to draw you to love Him - intensely, sacrificially; yes, extravagantly.

"Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'" (Mark 12:29-30, NLT)

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" (Revelation 3:15-16, NLT)

"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. ... You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:2-5, NIV)

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Click here to listen to a song by CeCe Winans about Mary's devotion.
It is titled, "Alabaster Box." I pray it will move you to return to your first love!

Drinking the cup we brew!

Everyday the man pours a cup of coffee in his kitchen and then complains that it is terrible. Kind of dumb, right? If it is not good, it would be up to him to change his method or his brand! Failing that, he has no complaint.

Many Americans, including me, are complaining about the state of things in our nation. The cup we have brewed for ourselves has turned out to be awfully bitter! For a long time now, we have asked the government to do what we should be doing for ourselves. Over the last 50 years, many of our churches were turned into museums of tradition or self-help centers that promised us our best life now- both equally devoid of the sacred Word! We laughed at self-restraint and adopted the motto- ‘if it feels good, do it!’ with gusto. Deferred gratification? Why, as long as you can borrow more, spend it!

Now we are drinking the bitter tea we brewed for ourselves. 2009 has brought us religion that cannot speak to our deepest spiritual needs, all of the perversions that accompany unbridled self-indulgence, and debt piled so high our economy is wrecked for the next decade. Some are wondering; "Why God is judging us?" The truth is that He is simply letting us drink the cup we brewed for ourselves. The Scripture says, "You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too." - 1 Corinthians 10:21, NLT

The metaphor in this passage is changed; the message is the same.
"Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest.
The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds!
But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit."
– Galatians 6:7-9, The Message

There is Good News in that passage for us, for now! What is it?
God will bless our efforts to plant a new crop. He will produce a rich harvest for us if we remain faithful to do what He has called us to do. Disciple, go deep with God! Make Him your complete priority. Move worship to first place each day. Pray about everything before you start, not when you have found yourself in a jam!

Here’s a passage to take with you through this day. May the Truth found here change the taste of the cup from which you drink!

"Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. ....
Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 5:1-2, 18-20, The Message
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Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking,
"Draw from my well that never shall run dry."

So, my brother, if the things this world gave you
Leave hungers that won't pass away.
My blessed Lord will come and save you,
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray,

Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!
　
Fill My Cup Lord
Blanchard, Richard © 1959 Richard Blanchard.
Assigned 1964 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055

The Patience of Job

"So, what’s up, Lord? Have You decided not to speak to me?" Such was my prayer recently. Despite reaching later mid-life, (OK, I am 53!) relatively intact; I’m fairly healthy, my wife loves me, my kids are doing well, I have more than enough stuff, I am reasonably competent in my profession: there are many days when my faith is stretched, pulled, tested, – and yes, frayed by questions for which I have no answer.

-Why do young Mom’s die from colon cancer?
-Why do people who divide get so much attention and peace-makers get kicked in the teeth?
-Why does God allow suffering to continue when people cry for relief?
-Why do people hate each other so intensely even when it destroys them?
-What does prayer accomplish when God seems not to listen?

The book that tells the story of a man named Job (pronounced with a long ‘o’ like in lobe, not a short one as in lobster!) is one of the Bible’s most ancient texts. The lead character, who is a godly man, sees his life shredded before his very eyes and suffers intensely. He protests the unfairness of it all! In chapter 31, he lists his good choices that should be producing a different outcome than the one in which he was living. "I do not live in lust. I am just even to my servants. I am generous towards those in need. I am not materialistic. I am hospitable to others. I respect the land!" Some making such claims are just blind to their own faults. The Bible says that Job was truly righteous and does not argue with his assertions of his goodness!

Yet, note God’s response to his demand for justice. "Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?" (Job 38:1-5, NLT)

In sum, God says to Job, "Just trust Me!"
There is the choice, disciple! Will we trust Him?
This is the fork in life’s road to which we come - again and again.
Will we patiently trust Him or will we decide to take life into our own hands?

The Bible is full of illustrations of those who decided to manage their own lives and ended up with a worse mess.
Abraham decided to have a son with Hagar and brought strife to his house.
The Israelites chose the advice of 10 spies who saw only the obstacles in Canaan and stayed in the wilderness for 40 years!
Saul chose to offer sacrifices instead of letting Samuel do it God’s way and was told that his "rebellion was worse than the sin of witchcraft!"　
David tried to cover up his adulterous affair instead of repenting and his sins multiplied.

The same Scripture shows us the breadth of God’s plan over hundreds of years and allows us to see that His will prevails, His purposes stand. Take this challenge and promise today, along with me, won’t you?

"Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
(Isaiah 35:3-4, NIV)
"And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." (Isaiah 35:8-10, NIV)
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God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see,
He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide,
Hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength
For each new day,
He will make a way,
He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness
He'll lead me,
And rivers in the desert will I see.
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain,
He will do something new today.

God Will Make A Way
Don Moen © 1990 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055